NICE, France (AP) – In one of the most heart-wrenching effects of the Nice truck attack, dozens of those killed or injured were children who had gone to see Bastille Day fireworks.
The children’s hospital in Nice treated some 50 children and adolescents after Thursday night’s attack, including two who died in surgery. Five remained in critical condition Friday night, according to Stephanie Simpson, the communications director for the Lenval Foundation hospital.
“Some are still between life and death,” she said.
The children are part of the 84 killed and 202 people wounded when a local man whom police identified as delivery driver Mohamed Bouhlel drove a huge truck through the holiday crowd Thursday night before police shot him dead. Bouhlel’s motives remain murky, although French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said he was “undoubtedly linked to radical Islam.”
Among those fighting to hold on to life is 13-year-old Sherine, according to her cousin, 38-year-old Malika Zenatti, who was interviewed at the hospital. Zenatti said Sherine’s twin brother, Mehdi, was pulverized by the impact with the vehicle.